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March 27, 2009

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Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) endorsed Democratic state senator Mark DeSaulnier to be her successor Thursday afternoon, giving him a critical boost as he prepares to run in a special election for her Bay Area seat.

"[DeSaulnier] is a seasoned, hardworking public servant who would do a great job," Tauscher told the Contra Costa Times. She was joined by longtime Bay Area congressman George Miller, who also threw his support behind DeSaulnier.

Their public endorsements came hours after another potential candidate, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, released a poll showing DeSaulnier narrowly trailing her in the race.

UPDATE: Tauscher re-iterated her support of DeSaulnier in a statement she sent to POLITICO:

"As I’ve said, the confirmation process can take months and I’m not going anywhere for now. I’m going about it as if nothing has changed and representing my constituents with the same energy and enthusiasm that I always have.

"Should we get to a point where I move on, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier is my choice for Congress. He is a seasoned and hard working public servant who would do a great job."